Technique
Over the years I’ve sought ways to combine the looseness and spontaneity of
sketching, the freedom and accidental effects of watercolours and the
richness and versatility of oils.
What I’m about to describe may seem dreadfully complex and time consuming;
in fact its pretty straightforward and often results in marvelous effects,
particularly in glowing shadow areas.
Surface Preparation
I used a 10cm house painting brush to give a 82 x 65cm sheet of hardboard
two coats of gesso. On the second coat I was careful to use brushstrokes
which were at right angles to the first coat. After a light sanding, the
gesso provided me with a low relief criss-cross pattern, which was much
smoother than canvas, but still provided good tooth, which is ideal for
working in charcoal.
Technique and Surface
Preparation
Oil Painting Demonstration - Step 3